Bikepacking Scotland
Bothies, Highlands, & Midges
The Scottish Highlands is a surprisingly wild and untamed land that promises (in our humble opinion) amongst the best bikepacking potential in Europe. Here are articles and routes about Scotland.
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Bikerafting Scotland’s Great Wilderness
5 Aug 23 Guest / plogNaomi Freireich and Cat Sutherland set off on an ambitious first bikerafting trip, a three-day adventure into Scotland’s Great Wilderness. Read on for a tale of pedaling along remote trails, paddling across choppy lochs, encountering strange creatures, and refusing to quit…
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Highland Trail 550: The Fellowship
12 Feb 1 Guest / videoA beautifully shot video that follows rider Joachim Rosenlund during last years Highland Trail 550 race. Watch it here and read his story, “The Fellowship of the Highlands”… plus, a Q&A about the ride and Joachim’s kit list.
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Wild About Argyll
5 Jan 13 Markus Stitz / videoA new video that captures why Argyll “Scotland’s Adventure Coast” is an awe-inspiring setting for bikepacking. At 655 km (407 miles) the new Wild About Argyll Trail is Scotland’s first long-distance, gravel-specific bikepacking route…
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72 mi. / 116 km5 daysMachair Coast: Bike-Rafting the Outer Hebrides
12 Oct 4 Guest Routes EuropeA bike-rafting circumnavigation of Scotland’s weird, wonderful and windswept outlying islands. White sand beaches, wildflower meadows and Norse heritage make this route a challenging but unique way to explore Europe’s north-western corner. -
Bikepacking Scotland and The Reiver Raid
0 May 29 Markus Stitz / videoA video sneak peek at the all new Reiver Raid bikepacking route by Markus Stitz, around the world singlespeeder and founder of the Capital Trail and other bikepacking routes in Scotland…
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Lee Craigie’s inner journey along the Caledonia Way
7 Feb 14 Guest / videoA short video that perfectly captures why riding a bike is a means to restorative escape. In this inspiring film Lee Craigie, co-founder of the Adventure Syndicate, explores her mind while bikepacking the beautiful Caledonia Way in Scotland… Plus more about that route.
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Joining The Dots on The Highland Trail 550
1 Nov 16 Guest / cultureThe extreme physical and emotional demands of multi-day bike racing often change people. It moves some to tears, and others to the brink of collapse. The Highland Trail 550 is no different. For former pro mountain bike racer and current UK 24 Hour Champion Lee Craigie it was such a profound experience she needed to share the story. Fellow HT550 racer and contributor Ian Fitz sat down with Lee, and a bottle of fine Scotch Whiskey* to find out more.
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181 mi. / 291 km4 daysThe Cairngorms Loop
42 Sep 29 Guest Routes EuropeThe Cairngorms Loop trail circumnavigates one of the most stunning areas in the Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms National Park. Dirt roads and singletracks climb valleys and twist their way back down through ancient Caledonian Forest. This route takes riders back to the roots of mountain biking and some sections will challenge even the experienced bikepacker. -
Mountain Bikes and Bothy Nights
5 Nov 13 Cass Gilbert / videoAs the nights draw in, think back (or forwards) to those long summer days, and their scope for adventure. And as long summer days go, few are more pronounced than those in the Scottish Highlands, a surprisingly wild and untamed land that promises (in our humble opinion) amongst the best bikepacking in Europe…
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148 mi. / 238 km3 daysBikepacking Scotland: The Capital Trail
17 May 6 Markus Stitz EuropeAlthough this route doesn’t venture too far from Edinburgh, the Capital Trail takes you through some very remote and beautiful places around the Scottish Capital. It features beaches, superb singletrack, Land Rover tracks, quiet roads, cycle paths and more.
